Toyota team up on digital auto network with Microsoft

Microsoft Corp and Toyota Motor Corp is going to work together on bringing internet-connected services to Toyota’s cars.

The world’s biggest software company and the biggest automaker said they were investing 1 billion yen or about $12 million in Toyota Media Service Co, a Toyota unit that handles its digital offerings for customers.From this service telecommunications and data for drivers in the form of GPS, multimedia, and managing power on electric and hybrid vehicles.

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Toyota is planning to set up a network based on Microsoft’s Azure “cloud computing” platform by 2015, which would allow customers across the world access to Toyota’s digital services.Toyota is planning will monitor and integrate a person’s power usage across the home and car to maximize efficiency.
The partnership with Toyota is a departure for Microsoft, which so far has focused most of its auto industry technology efforts on Ford Motor Co.